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Buick V6/350 Oil Pump Priming

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by w3srl, Mar 5, 2023.

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  1. Mar 5, 2023
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    Not 100% Jeep related, but here goes:

    My "toy car" is a '71 Buick Skylark with the 350 small block, which shares a lot of similarities with the 225/231 V6. I'm getting ready to do a cam change to give the ol' girl a little attitude and decided that while I was in there it would be a good idea to change out the oil pump and front cover, as well as the usual lifters/timing set when doing a cam change out. I also have a new TA performance water pump ready to go in.

    My question is this: Has anyone done a pre startup oil pump prime and have suggestions on a good way to prelube things before I fire it up with the new cam? The usual parts sources don't show a priming shaft for a Buick, the closest I can find is for a SB/BB Chevy but the oil pump shafts are off by ][ this much, the tool won't drop down onto the oil pump. Any idears guys?

    (Pic was the day it came home from the paint shop, still didn't have all the trim back on.)

    IMG_1145 copy.jpg
     
    w3srl, Mar 5, 2023
    #1
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  2. Mar 5, 2023
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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    just like 225 . pack pump with petroleum jelly
    spin engine over without spark plugs
    but what do I know
     
    Twin2, Mar 5, 2023
    #2
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  3. Mar 5, 2023
    colojeepguy

    colojeepguy Colorado Springs

    At the foot of...
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    Nice looking car!
     
    colojeepguy, Mar 5, 2023
    #3
  4. Mar 5, 2023
    3b a runnin

    3b a runnin Active Member 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    virginia
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    I like!:beer:
     
    3b a runnin, Mar 5, 2023
    #4
  5. Mar 5, 2023
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    That's what I've always done before, but i waited a long time to get this cam and I really want to have oil up in all the galleys before turning it over. Digging deeper I *think* I might be able to modify the Chevy tool to fit the Buick oil pump.
     
    w3srl, Mar 5, 2023
    #5
  6. Mar 5, 2023
    Rich M.

    Rich M. Shoe salesman 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Maryland
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    Unless the cover is badly scored it's not necesssry to replace it. A new set of gears with a Melling thrust plate ( if your filter housing is scored badly, if mild it can be patiently polished on a flat surface with buffing compoung/ rouge) pump properly shimmed and packed with Vaseline as mentioned.
    I gutted a Prestloite distributor and use it for a priming tool. I like to prime just enough to get pressure up on the gauge. Then spin it over with the plugs backed out and ignition off to double check. Then it's a go!
     
    Rich M., Mar 5, 2023
    #6
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  7. Mar 5, 2023
    Mcruff

    Mcruff Earlycj5 Machinist

    Albertville, AL
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    I made a priming tool out of a 3/8” piece of round stock, cut flats on the one end that fit the drive key of the pump. Hook it to a cordless drill and let here rip. That being said i also packed mine with vaseline. But I had oil pressure before start up due to using the cordless drill with the drive tool.
     
    Last edited: Mar 5, 2023
    Mcruff, Mar 5, 2023
    #7
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  8. Mar 5, 2023
    Ollie2009

    Ollie2009 Member

    Ann Arbor, MI
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    I packed mine with petroleum jelly too. Beautiful car.!
     
    Ollie2009, Mar 5, 2023
    #8
  9. Mar 5, 2023
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    When I rebuilt the Buick v6 for the CJ, I packed the pump with p-jelly and used a pump priming tool. I did the same for the SBC v8 in the willys. Note - the two priming tools are NOT the same and cannot be interchanged. I bought the one for the Buick from summit or the like, and it worked great in the Buick, and made one for the SBC from an old distributor housing and shaft.
     
    FinoCJ, Mar 5, 2023
    #9
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  10. Mar 5, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Tucson, AZ
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    I did the same except I had a piece of aluminum tube laying around that fit over the pump shaft. The flat round stock fit in the tube and kept it all aligned. No slipping off and could drive it all day.
    I suppose a short length of copper would work too. I just used what i had laying around and what came to mind when it did. Also pressure primed the oil pump first a couple of times as the thin side of the oil pump gasket split and blew a fine mist under my crap on the first drive.
     
    vtxtasy, Mar 5, 2023
    #10
  11. Mar 5, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

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    Beautiful car! I am such a sucker for blue.
     
    vtxtasy, Mar 5, 2023
    #11
  12. Mar 5, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Tucson, AZ
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    How is your oil pressure now? If you have good oil pressure with a mechanical gauge why open a can of worms. What brand of cam are you using? What is the engine mileage?
     
    vtxtasy, Mar 5, 2023
    #12
  13. Mar 5, 2023
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    I made a priming tool out of an old points distributor. works well.
     
    nickmil, Mar 5, 2023
    #13
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  14. Mar 5, 2023
    nickmil

    nickmil In mothballs.

    Happy Valley, OR
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    I think the point is he wants to get oil through the lifters and to the top end before firing it up.
     
    nickmil, Mar 5, 2023
    #14
  15. Mar 5, 2023
    vtxtasy

    vtxtasy oldbee 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor

    Tucson, AZ
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    I get that as in my post above. Details do make a difference as far as wear goes. Could have been grandmas car with low mileage.
     
    vtxtasy, Mar 5, 2023
    #15
  16. Mar 6, 2023
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    The car was literally grandma’s car with 85k on it to date, but the PO swapped the Chevy 250 inline six (base model engine that year) for a Buick 350. Date code is correct for a ‘71 but unknown miles on the engine. It’s tight and has good compression, I guess I’m just paranoid about wiping out a new cam after waiting so long for it to come in. Using Zpaste assembly lube and high zinc break in oil. Also have a mechanical oil pressure gauge. Hoping to tear into this thing this coming weekend.
     
    w3srl, Mar 6, 2023
    #16
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  17. Mar 7, 2023
    jeepdaddy2000

    jeepdaddy2000 Active Member

    Eagle Point oregon
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    I use a large flat tipped screwdriver. Drop a socket over it to keep it centered on the pump shaft and chuck it up in a drill.

    Make sure you have a good grip on the drill, 'cause when it builds pressure it will try to whip out of your hand.
     
    jeepdaddy2000, Mar 7, 2023
    #17
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  18. Mar 7, 2023
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    Success! I was able to drive the roll pin out of the SBC tool I had laying around and grind the tip of the tool just enough to get a nice loose fit in the pump shaft. Slipped the sleeve back on and reinstalled the roll pin. Done!

    Thanks for all the ideas fellas!
     
    w3srl, Mar 7, 2023
    #18
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  19. Mar 7, 2023
    FinoCJ

    FinoCJ 1970 CJ5 Staff Member

    Bozeman, MT
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    did you verify oil coming up through the rockers? The sleeves can be different between the SBC and the buick, and sometimes the sleeve can block some of the oil passageways.....
     
    FinoCJ, Mar 7, 2023
    #19
  20. Mar 7, 2023
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
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    I have not, hoping to tear into the engine this weekend. By "sleeves" are you referring to the one on the tip of the tool down at the pump shaft, or the one in that slides into the top of the timing cover to keep the tool centered?
     
    w3srl, Mar 7, 2023
    #20
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